Readily openable envelope having an integrally formed tear strip



J. MELA RBADILY oPBNABLB ENvBLOPE HAvING AN Nov. 19, 1968 INTEGRALLY FoRMED TEAR STRIP 2 SheetSSheet 1 F ed Au 28 1967 Nov. 19, 1968 J. MELA 3,411,700

READILY oPENABLB ENVELOPB HAVNG AN NTEGRALLY FORMED TBAR STRIP F1ed Aug 28 1967 2 SheetsSheet 2 ATToR N EY United SateS Patent 3,411,700 READILY ofENABLE ENvELofB HAvING AN INTEGRALLY foRMED TEAR STRIf Joseph l1e1a, 27 Ave. de1a vicfo1fe 06, 1`Iice, Efance E11ed Aug. Z8, 1967, Sef. No. 663,6ss C1a1nIS pfiofify, app11cation Efance, Sepf. 9, 1066, 75,843; Jul 1967, 114,987 6 C1aims. (CL 22985) ABSTRACT of THE DISCLoSURE This invention iS the infegfa1 foffn'ation in an enve1ope of a teaf Stfip by n1eanS of vvhich the envelope Inay be feadily opened. The teffn enve1ope not only includes enve1opes fof lettefS and othef apefs, bI1t a1So bagS, gen efany Sman bagS, Sachets, etc. Which afe made of teaf able fnatefia1 and vvhich afe genefa11y Sealable of sea1ed to hold theif contents unti1 they afe to be opened. The teaf Stfip is integfa11y fofn1ed by en1bossing one of fnofe fovvs of SIna11 bafs, of e1ongated pin1pleS, son1evvhat ad jacent one e1ongate edge of the envelope, and )fefefab1y stopping the fow Shoft of one of both endS of the enve1ope. T11e bafs fnay be embosSed ffom eithef of both faceS of the enve1ope and, vvhen ffon1 both faceS, the eIn boSSed bafS vvi11 a1tefnate, and pfefefably be con tig11olls. In anothef foffI1, tvvo fovvS of efflboSSed bafS Inay have theif conffonting ends offset and intefengaging. In othef foffnS, tvvo pafa11el fovvs, S1ightly Spaced apaft afe pfovided, and in anothef fofffl, a fow of peffofa tiofls is pfovided pafa11e1 to 'and betvveen the tvvo fovvs. The efnboSSed bafs may eXtend at fight a1g1es to the fovv, of nfay eXtend afalle1 to each othef but at an acute angle to the foW of fowS. In the sing1e fow fofm, the teaf 1ine deve1opeS betvveen the endS of the bafs, In the tvvo fow fofInS, the teaf 1ine developes betvveen the tvvo fovvS, and if a fow of effofationS is pfeSent thefebetvveen, then the teaf line developes along the fow of peffofations. Fufthef, the fow of en1boSSed bars sefves to hold the ffont and back Sides of the envelope 1ocked togethof so that the contents, s11ch as a lettef ()f pieces of papef, cannot extend betvveen the ffont and back of the enve1ope, and thuS cannot be accidenta11y tof11 vVhen the envelope iS opened.

This invention felates to a feadi1y openab1e enve1ope having an integfa11y fofIned teaf Stfip, on vhich an ap plication fof )atent has a1feady been field in Ffance on Sept. 9 1966, sef. No. 7S,843, and fifst addition thefe to on Iu1y 20, 1967, Sef. No. 114,987 and pfiofity on def the Intofnationa1 Convention is c1aiIned hefein.

1t iS an objecf of thiS invenfion to pfovide a feadily openable enve1ope in Which the opening ineanS iS integfa1- 1y pfovided il1 the enve1ope by dfy pfinting of en1bossing a fow of bafs, ffon1 one of both faces thefeof, SI1ch fow being located adjacent one longitudina1 edge of -the envo1ope.

A fufthef obiect of thiS invention is to pfovide a Weak ened opening teaf Stfip integfally fofIned in the en velope, adiacent one elongate edge, vhich vvi11 a1So fTlaintain the enve1ope contentS Safe ffom being 1iable to be tofn in the act of teafing the opening teaf stfip.

A fufthef obiect is to pfovide an iInpfoven1enf ovef app1icant,S pfevioI1s tJ.S. Patent 1To. Z 964 916 of oct. 4, 1960.

A fufthef obiect of this invention is fo pfovide a feadi ly openab1e enve1ope Whefein, in the case of a vefy thin papef enve1ope, Such aS an aifn1ai1 onve1ope, the on- 3,41 1,700 Pafenfed Nov, 19, 1968 ve1ope Inay be feinfofced at the feaf 1ine pfovided by this invention by inSefting a stfip of band of ITatefia1 into the teaf stfip afea, betvveen the ffont and back faceS of the envelope, vvhich band iS Inaintained in place by the fovv of embosSed bafs being pfovided thefethfongh sifnU1tane ol1sly With the embosSed bafs thfough the ffont and back faces of the enve1ope.

A f11fthef object of thiS invention is to pfovide a veak ened teaf 1ine integfany in the envelope Which is pfovided by one of fnofe fow of eInboSSes c1oSely adjacent each othef, vvhich fow of fowS of effl boSSes nTay be in1 pfeSSed ffoIn eithef of both faceS of the enve1ope.

A fl1f thef obiect of this invention iS to pfovide an integfally foffned teaf stfip of teaf line in an enve1ope, vvhich enve1ope IIlay be a bag of containef of Inay be a bag of containef fof othef Inatefia1S than lettef papef.

vvith the above and felated obiectS in vieW, thiS inven tion consists in the detailS of conStfuction and cofnbina tion of pafts, aS vvin be Inofe fu11y understood ffom the fo11ovving deScfiption, vvhen fead in conjunction With the accoInpanying dfaWing, in vhich= FIC}, 1 iS a vievv of the back side of 'a stationefy enve1ope of a Snla11 standafd size to vhich this inven tion haS been applied.

FIG. Z is a vievv of a lega1 SiZe envelope, paftly bfoken avvay, ShoWing the san1e fofIn of invention- FIG. 3 ShovvS an unfolded aiffnai1 enve1Ope vvith a fe infofcement band inc1uded thefein.

FIG. 4 is a Sectional view on Hne 44 of FIG. 3.

1 IG. 6 iS a back vievv of an onvelope With a di1fefent fofIn of thiS invention.

FIG. 6 is a ffont ffag fnentafy vievv of the teaf Stfip of the enve1ope of FIG. 6, in the pfocess of being openedl F1(}. 7 iS an en1afged ffagn1entafy vievv Showing the detai1s of the fofff1 of invention in FI(}S. 6 and 6.

FIGs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 afe siInilaf enlafged detai1 ffag Inents of di1fefent Inodined fofIns of teaf stfipS.

FIG. 12 iS a plan view of an enve1ope in the fofn1 of a bag of Sachet to vvhich the invention haS been applied.

FIG. 13 is a section on 1ine 1313 of FIG. 12.

Thefe iS Shown at 1 in FIG. 1, a standafd sn]a11 Size enve1ope having the uSual sea1ing 11ag 2 extending ovef its back face, to which this invention in the foffn of a fow 3 of bafs 6 and 7 have been efnboSSed altefnately ffon1 both the ffont and back faces of the envelope.

In FIG. Z, a Standafd 1ega1 size enve1ope 11 iS shovn, vvith a fow 13 of a1tefnate, opposite1y en1bossed bafS 16 and 17, Stopping Shoft of the adjacent end of the en velope at 14 and 15, It Wil1 be noted that the bafs 6 of 16, eInbosSed on the ffont face, altefnate vvith and afe contiguous With the bafS 7 of 17 eInbosSed on the feaf face of the enve1ope 1. In enlafged detai1, as shown in FI(}s. 8 thfough 11 they afe genefany founded at both onds, a1thongh they fnay be stfaight at one end, as shovvn in FIG. 7, of both ends aS Shown in FIGS. 1 fo 4. The fow 3 of 13 stopS Shoft of each end of the enve1ope, 'aS Shown at 4 and 5, of 14 and 15.

In FIGS. 1 and Z, the endS of the bafs 6 and 7 of 16 and 17 tend to be Stfongef than the intefnlediate poftion, and thfIS, When a teaf iS Stafted by ho1ding the enve1opeS With the end afeas 4 and s, of 14 and 15, betvveen the fingefS of one hand, the teaf Hne win develop betWeen the ends of the bafS along theif ff1i(1dle of intefInediafe afoas and the envelope vvi11 be ton1 open. The pfesence of the efnboSSeS 6 and 7 of 16 and 17 pfevent tho on cloSed papef of 1ettef in tho enve1ope ffom entefing the feaf sffip afea of the enve1ope, and thuS cannof bo tofn When opening the enve1ope a1ong the feaf Stfip fow 3 of 13.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, a vefy thin papef aiffnail enve1ope is Shovvn having a ffont panel 21 connected With the feaf panel 27 at the fo1d 1ine 28, vvith a band of stfip of Inatefial 26, pfefefab1y of papef of n1atefia1 tho SaIne aS that of the envelope, the band 26 eXfending betvveen the ffont pane1 21 and feaf pane1 27 of the aifnlai1 enve1ope 20 aS faf as the inSide of the fo1d Hne 28, the band being only S1ight1y Widef than the vvidth of the en1boSSed bafS of the fow 23- The teafing opefation of thiS fofn^l iS the Safne aS deScfibed abovotho feafing line vvi11 develop a1ong the intefmediate poftion of the bafS of the fow 23w In FIGS 5, 6 and 7 is Shown a zippef fofIn of this invention. In fhis foffn the enve1ope 31 haS tvvo pafa11e1 offSet of staggefed fowS 33 and 34 of efnboSSed bafS extending up thfough the ffont face of the enve1ope. The offSet conffonting endS 35, Which afe founded, it vvil1 be noted, intefengage each othef and pfovide a1ine of Weakened fesiStance along vvhich tho feafiflg 1ine 36 Will de ve1op vvhen the edge afea 32 is tofn avvay. In thiS caSe, the bafS afe efnbosSed on the ffont face by being in1- pfeSSed thfough the feaf faco of the envelope 31 to pfo iect above the ffont face but obvionSly 1ay be efnboSSed thfoI1gh the ffont face fo pfoiect on the feaf face. 1ov evef, in thiS Zippof the intefengaged endS of the eII1- bossed bafS pfovide the 1ine of vveakneSS of teafing line 3G, aS Shown in FIG. 6.

In the fofIn shown in FIG 8, two pafane1 fows of bafS 43 and 44 afo on1bosSed ffom one envelope face only, and thI1s pfovide a, feaf 1ine 45 betvveen theIn- It vvi11 be noted that the bafs 43 and 44 afe hefe Shown as eXtending at I`ight angles to the difection of the fovv, and a1though not o1fSet, could We11 be offSet. It is a1So noted that the enlbOSSed bafs afo Spaced apaft a diStance not gfeatef than theif width.

The fofm Shown in FIG. 9 is sin111af to that in FIG. 8, 1US a teafing 1ine pfovided by a fow of Spaced poffofationS 55 pafa11e1 to and between the two fovS of en1 bosSed bafs 53 and 54.

The fofm in FIG- 10 diffefs ffom thaf of FIG- 9 by having the individua1 efnboSSed bafs 33 and 64 eXfend at an acI1te ang1e to the difection of the fows, the feafing 1ino being pfovided by the foW of peffofationS 65.

The fofm in FIG. 11 has itS embosSed bafs 73 and 74 at acute angleS to each othef and to the difection of the fows, and in addifion, thefe iS a fovy of 1ineaf1y exfending eITlboSSed bafS 75 altefnating with peffofationS 7o pfo vidiI1g the teafing line betWeen the fowS of angu1af1y ox tending emboSSed bafS 73 and 74.

In FIGs. 12 and 13, tho onve1ope 81 is a sachot of bag, vvhich fnay be 1afgef than the conventiona1 enve1ope SizeS, and IIlay be IISed fof confents othof than papefs of 1et tefs, Such aS beauty povvdef, confectionefy, of othef afticleS. T11e efnboSSed bafS 83 and 84 making np the fow 85 Inay be the Sanle as shovvn in any of the pfeceding fofIns of the invention.

Any fofn1 of the invention fnay be pfovided by n1eaffS of an eInboSSing too1 of pfinting tooL ffom one of both faces, and if deSifed, ink Inay be added. fIovvevef, the embossing of ofinting act, Whethef dfy of With ink, a1So SefveS, in a senSe, fo coInPfeSS of So1def the tvvo faceS of Sheets of the enve1ope togethef a1ong the eInboSSed fovvs So fhat a 1ettef p1aced in the enve1ope vVi11 not entof thofebetween, and thUS vVi11 not be accidenfa11y tofn when the eflve1ope iS openod a1ong the teafing line pfovided. Any othef SU1tab1e fnannef of nlanufactufe nlay be Sed.

In tho dfavvingS, 1ike nun1befs fefef to 1ike paftS, and fof the pUfposeS of explication, InafSha11ed be1ow afe the 1Sfna11 onvelope 3fow of emboSSed bafs 4one end Inafg111 5othef end fnafgin obafS en1boSSed ffoIn one face of the envelope 7a1tef11ato contiguous bafS eInboSSod ffom the othef faco 11lega1 siZe enve1ope 13foW of embosSed bafS, Similaf to 3 14one end Inafgin 15ofhef end n1afgin 16bafS emboSSed ffom one face 17bafs en1boSSed ffofn the ofhef face 20aifmail envelope of thin apef 21ffont panel of 20 23foW of emboSSed bafs 24end Inafgin 25()thef end nlafgin 2ofeinfofcen1ent band of stfip of fnatefia1 27feaf pane1 of 20 28fold line of 20 31enve1ope of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 32edge afea of 31 33r0w of bafs iI1 31 34offSet fow of bafs in 31 35oIfSet conffonting ends of 33 and 34 3ofeafing 1ine of 35 43T0W in FIG. 8

44othef fow in FIG. 8

45teaf 1ine betWeen 43 and 44 53foW in FIG. 9

54othef fow in FIG. 9

55 feafing Hne between 53 and 54 o3acUfe angle efnboSSeS in FIG. 10

o4othof acute angle en1boSSeS in FI(}. 10

65teafing line of peffofationS betvveen 63 and 154 73acuto ang1e eInboSSeS in FI( 11 74othef acute ang1e emboSSeS i11 FI(}, 11

751ineaf1y eXtending eInbosSed bafS betvveen 73 and 74 7Ga1tefnating peffofations ifl 75 81Sachet of bag in FIGS. 12 and 13 83emboSSed bafS 84emboSSed bafS 85fow of 83 and 84.

Iiaving th11s set fofth and diSc1oSed the nat[1fe of thiS invention, vVhat iS c1aifned iS= 1. A feadi1y openable envelope con1pfising an enve- 1ope, Said enve1ope having a feaf Sffi integfally fofIned thefein, Said feaf Stfip being s1ighf1y Spaced ffoff1 and ex fending a1ong af leaSt one e1ongafo edge of said enve10po Said teaf stfip conlpfising a fovv of adjacent bafS en1 bosSed on one face of Said envelope ffoIn the o poSite face thefeof pfoviding a feadi1y teafab1e 1ine, Said fow of bafS being elnbossed altefnate1y ffom oppoSite faceS of Said enve1ope, Said altefnate eInboSSed bafs being con figuous to each othef.

2. A feadily openable enve1o e con1pfiSing an enve 1ope, Said enve1ope having a teaf Stfip integfa11y fofIned thefein, Said feaf Stfip being S1ight1y S aced ffon1 and eX tending a1ong at leaSt one elongate edge of said enve1ope, Said teaf Stfip compfiSing a fow of adjacent bafs emboSSed on one face of Said enve1o e ffom the oppoSite face thefeof pfoviding a feadi1y teafable 1ine, Said foaf stfip alSo including a second fow of Similaf emboSSed bafS afaHe1to Said fifSt fow.

3. A feadily openable onve1ope con1pfising an enve- 1ope, Said enve1ope having a teaf Stfip integfa11y fofIned thefein, Said teaf stfip being S1ight1y Spaced ffon1 and ox tending a1ong af 1eaSf one e1ongate edge of Said onve1ope, Sai(1 teaf Stfi compfiSing a fow of adjacent bafS embosSed on one face of Said enve1ope ffoIn the oppoS1te face theTeof pfoviding a readily tearable line, Said row of baTS being emboSSed alteTnately ffom oppoSite faceS of Said envelo e, Said teaT stri also including a Second row of siInila1 embossed baTS paralle1 to Said first Tow, Said embossed bars of one row being offSet With relation to Said eInbosSed barS of Said other Tow, fhe confTonting endS of each of Said rovv of enlboSSed bars extending pafdy between the confronting endS of the other Tow of Said emboSSed bars.

4. A readily openable envelope coInpfising an enve 1ope, Said envelope having a tear strip integrally foTIned therein, Said tear strip being SHghtly spaced ffoIIl and ex tending along at least one elongate edge of said envelope, Said tear Stfip conpfiSing a row of adjacent baTS em, boSSed on one face of said envelope from the oppoSite face thereof rovidin a readily tearable line, and a Te inforcement band of mateTial heId in plaoe between the front and back faoes of said envelope by Said bars also being emboSSed thefethrough.

5. A Teadily openable envelope coInpfiSing an enve- 1ope, said envelope having a teaT Strip integrally forIned therein, Said tear Strip being slightly Spaced f1om and extending along at least one elongate edge of Said envelope, said teaT StTip compfising a Tow of adjacent bars em boSSed on one face of Said envelope fTom the opposite face thereof pfoviding a readily tearable line, Said Tow of barS being eInHosSed alteTnately from oppoSite faces of Said envelope, aid teaT StTip alSo including a Second fow of Similar embossed bars pafane1 to said firSt fow, Said tWo TowS of emboSSed bars being s1ightly Spaced apalt, and a row of peTforationS extending betWeen Said two rows of ef1boSSed baTS.

6. A Teadily openable envelope compTiSing an enve lope, Said envelope having a tear stTip intogrally foTnled thefein, Said tear strip being S1ightly Spaced from and eX- tending along at leaSt one elongate edge of said envelope, Said tear stfip compTiSing a low of adiacent bars em boSSed on one face of said envelope fTom the opposite face therof roviding Teadily teaTable line, Said Tow of baTSbeing emboSSed alteTnately froInopposite faceS of Said envelope, Said teaT stTip alSo including a Second row of Similaf eInbossed bars paranel to said TSt Tow, Said two Tows of eInboSSed baTS being slightly Spaced apaTt, the barSof each Tow being parallo1 to the other baS of the Sanlo TovV and the bafs of each rovv being at an angle to the bars of the other rovv.

RefeTences cffed UNITED STATES PATENTS -1,803,348 S/1931 PaSurka ZZ98 L8S,6S6 4/193Z voglmayer. Z,396,43 3/ 1946 velazquez 2Z986 Z 866 89 12/1958 Zacker ZZ9S1 3,ZZ9,894 1/1966 Rosenthal ZZ98 FoREIGN PATENTS 23 L909 7/ 1944 SWitzerland.

DAvID M- BoCKENEK, P Exmer. 

